PERSONAL ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1547, 17 September 1912, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Vice-Rio.il. His Excellency the Governor will have his time pretty fully occupied during" tho present week. In tho day time he will bo concerned in the golf championship tourney at Trent ham, in which ho is a competitor, and every evening has been "booked" with engagements. This evening their Excellencies are to attend tho meeting in conuoction with, tho Y.W.CX Conference. To-morrow, Lady Islington will leave for "Highden" (Palmcrston North). In tho afternoon, his Excellency will preside at tho opening of the Hutt Valley Horticultural Society's spring show, and in the evening will visit tho Boys' Institute. On Thursday his Excellency will attend the Arts Club's concert at tho Town Hall, and tho followiug evening will bo present at Meanbra do Cdsneross concert at the Town Hall. Tho prizes in connection with tho golf championships will bo presented by his Excellency at Trentham on Saturday afternoon, and, in tho evening he will prosent the Plunket medal for oratory to the successful University candidate. On Monday evening next, Lord Islington will attend tho Early" Settlors' entertainment at the Town Hall', and on Tuesday evening will be present at the Pliminer-Denniston Company's performance of "Nobody's Daughter" at the Opera House. Though not absolutely definite as yet, it is anticipated'that his Excellency the Governor and Lady Islington will leave the Dominion finally on Monday, December 2, Bailing from Auckland on that date for Sydney, where thoy will connect with the Orient liner Osterley. His Excellency will leave the i steamer at Colombo, and proceed to Calcutta, to take up his duties as Chairman of the Commission that is to inquire into matters affecting the Indian Public Services, Lady Islington will proceed on to England, probably accompanied by Captain Macdougall, A.D.C. The Hon. Joan Dickson-Poynder, daughter of their Excellencies, is to leavo for England in November.

Hr. Guise (private secretary) and Mrs. Guise' will leave for Home shortly before Christmas.

Tho Hon. P. M. B. Fisher is expected to return from Blenheim on. Saturdar.

Dr. Newman, M.P., who has been absent from his Parliamentary, duties for a fortnight, has been ordered a week's rest in tho country. He will be back in his place-in-the House on Tuesday,' 24th' instant.

Tho Count and Countess do Cisneros will arrive in Wellington by tho Main Trunk express this afternoon.

Mr, A. Maunder,- of the chief engineer's staff, of the Railway Department, who has retired on superannuation, was presented on Saturday last with two Morris chairs, and a,set of pipes, by Hie combined staffs of the head and district engineering offices.

Mr. Clive M. Smith, son of Mr. Wm. Smith, managing director of Smith and Smith, Ltd., died yesterday afternoon, just as he was about to be removed to a private hospital. Tho young man had been in indifferent health for some time, and took a turn for the worse at his father's farm at Waikanae on Sunday afternoon. Paralysis set in, and Dr. Young was telephoned for. The lattier motored to Waikanae and returned to tho city with the patient at two o'clock yesterday morning. A consultation of three doctors took, place yesterday morning, and at noon an operation was decided upon. At two p.m., when the young man was about to be removed in an ambulance to a private hospital, where the operation was to be performed, he suddenly expired. The deceased was 25 years of age.

The sudden death of the Rev. Robert Stewart, pastor of St. John's Presbyterian Church, Greymouth, on Thursday morning last (previously announced by telegram) caused profound regret in that town. The day prior to his death Mr. Stewart was about town arranging matters generally in connection with his intended departure for Kaiapoi. He then complained of not feeling too well. During the night he had a seizure of heart trouble, and died at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday, The late Mr. Stewart was a native of Shetland. He came to New Zealand in the year 18G7, and arrived at Lyttelton by' the ship -Mermaid, of the White Star Line. Ho was trained for the ministry under the Colonial Board of the Northern Church in Canterbury and in Hnwlce's Bay. Mr. Stewart was subsequently stationed at Rakain, Canterbury, for three years, and was ordained in 188S at Woodville, where he remained for four years. On September 10, 1892, Mr. Stewart was appointed to the clinrgo of St. John's, Clturcn, Greymouth, which position he had filled till the time of his death, though he had tendered his resignation to the .Westlaud Presbytery in consequence of having accepted a unanimous call to Kaiapoi. In 1892, Mr. Stewart was appointed Clerk to the Westland Presbytery and held that office till two years ago, when he was unanimously elected Moderator in recognition of tho sterling services ho had renderod to the Church. For nine years he had the chief oversight of the Presbyterian Chinese Mission, whilst he occupied many important positions under the Presbytery, such as being in charge of the country Home Mission stations.

. Mr. James Cowan, of Wellington, lias been engaged as general adviser and interpreter to the Melies Picture Expedition, which is to leavo Wellington for Rotoruo. to-day.

Tho death occurred on Saturday of Mr. Alexander J. Walsh, of Ohiro 'Road, a well-known member of the Wellington Lithographic and Letterpress Printers' Union, of which he was one of the founders. Deceased was 47 years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. .T. B. Mcrrctt, Christeluirch, who have been spending a few days in -Wellington, leave to-day on a visit to Napier. Says onv Wangamii correspondent: There passed away on Sunday at Springvalo another of Waiiganni's oldest pioneers in the person of Joseph Hughes, familiarly known as "Old Uncle." Deceased, who had reached the age of SO, arrived in Wangamii in tho carlv sixties, ami took an active part in the'stirring events of the Maori War on this coast. After taking: his shave of. tho lighting he dropped tho rifle for tho miner's pick, and joined in the Gabriel's Gullv rush. After 'losing his all. with others, in a "salted" claim, ho went to Dun.slon, but had no better -luck, and, after .-cvernl years of un.-ncccss-fnl toil, he returned to Wangamii, and took up {'arming with his brother in tho Wailolara district. A few years of farming was succeeded bv another attack of the wander and lie went lo Australia, where he worked as a contractor. Finally tiring of adventuro he returned to Wangamii about eighteen years ago, if not fuller in pocket at, least richer in a store of reminiscences which never failed to interest his friends. He was a staunch follower of General Root.li, and remained to the last a faithful soldier of the' Salvation Army. Mr. Scott CnlvilK secretary of fh» Auckland Compntltions Soci«ty, is n v|«. .tor to Wellington.